Skirt-form



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T. LEAVIS.' SKIRT FORM. No. 445,375. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

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T. LE AVI-S SKIRT FORM;

No. 445,375; Patented Jan. 27, 1.891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS IIEAVIS, O1 \VAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKIRT-FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,375, dated January 2'7, 1891.

Application filed August 25, 1890- Serial No. 362,970. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LEAVIS, of Vakefield, in the county of MiddleseX,State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Skirt-Forms, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved skirt-form, the base being broken off; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional plan view showing the adjusting mechanism, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the form.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to adj ustable forms for draping dress-skirts; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simple, cheap, and effective article of this character. I

The nature of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the form considered as a Whole. The form is constructed of wicker-work or Woven reeds and is of the usual shape. The base 0 (broken off in Figs. 1 and 2) is constructed of vertically-inclined crossed reeds b, rigidly secured together by intertwined horizontal brace-reeds at the bot tom in the ordinary manner. These reeds are continued vertically and parallel, forming the hip or upperportion B of the form. This hip portion is divided centrally and vertically at f g, forming two sides or sections h i, which the flexible nature of the crossed base-reeds 1) permit to spread or separate. The reeds b in each hip-section are supported or secured by interlaced brace-reeds 70 at the waist and convenient points between the waist and base. The ends of the brace 'eeds (Z 7e on each section are respectively connected within the form bybars m p. In each bar 19 hand-screws 15 are fitted to rotate the threaded portions of said screws, working in correspondinglythreaded openings in the companion bars at. By rotating the screws 25 the bars on are caused to travel thereon, spreadingthe form-sections h I: in a manner readily understood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicit description. The base C remains practicall y solid, the elasticity of the crossed reeds therein permitting sufficient adjustment to the hip portions, which it is alone necessary to vary to render applicable for skirts of different sizes. The form being provided with a solid base in the ordinary manner is readily supported thereby. By crossing the reeds b they serve to brace each other and prevent the form from bending inward or becoming misshapen. Moreover, a portion of said reeds in the base crossing to opposite hip-sections h or 2', and being secured together at their lower ends, tend to force said hip portions to gether and recover readily when the spreading-screws are released. The device as described is cheaply constructed and is much more durable than forms wherein parallel rods are employed, adjacent rods being pivoted together at their lower ends. Such forms necessitate also the employment of astand to support them, while my device is self-supporting on its base and yet permits the adjustment necessary.

I do not confine myself to constructing the form of reeds, as wires or similar elastic rods may be employed, if desired.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- A skirt-form comprising a base constructed of interlaced rods rigidly secured together at their lower ends, said rods being extended in parallel directions to form the upper or hip portion of said form, which is divided vertically into two sections, in combination with means for adjusting said sections laterally with relation to each other.

THOMAS LEAVIS.

W it-nesses:

O. M. SHAW, N. F. TURNER. 

